Heel



Aug. 31, 1943.

A. BARTON HEEL Filed April 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jnyenzar Jrmanci fiarfai? 5y vZ M A. BARTON Aug. 31, 1943.

HEEL

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1941 f7? yew zar I J/fwvrey fl y/Z 7 9/3 Patented Aug. 31, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEEL Armand Barton, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Louis Vulcan, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,509

2 Claims.

The invention relates to heels for shoes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a heel which is composed of plastic composition material.

A further object constitutes the provision of a. heel made of composition material which is providedwith a central core of other material and capable of permitting facile attachment to a shoe.

Another object constitutes the provision of a heel which has a wooden core.

A still further object constitutes the provision of novel steps in a process of manufacturing heels of plastic composition material.

With these and many other objects in view which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heel constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 shows in perspectiv the disassembled parts of the heel.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the heel and portions of a shoe.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the heel.

Fig. 6 is a. perspective viewof a slight modified heel.

Fig. '7 shows a punch in elevation and a die in section for producin'g my improved heel.

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 7 showing the composition material in the die.

Fig. 9 shows the punch and die in section after compression of the composition material.

Fig. 10 shows the di in section subsequent to removal of the punch and the application of compressed air.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the die, and

Fig. 12 is a side view of the heel, and

Fig. 13 is a top plan view.

The invention is predicated on the manufacture of heels from a plastic composition material with out however,.restricting it to any particular composition provided it is capable of being utilized for the assigned purpose.

I have found that a composition including milk powder, starch, camphor powder, ammonium sulphate, glycerol, tartaric acid and stearic acid yields a satisfactory material. The heel generally designated by Hi made of composition material is shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

The heel comprises a body portion made up of composition material and has a central chamber il extending from the top of the heel to a point slightly beyond the middle of the height of the heel. As shown the chamber is cylindrical but any other form may be chosen with equally good results.

The heel depicted is a lady's heel but, of course,

any other heel may be produced in accordance with my invention.

The heel I0 is formed at the top with an inner lip l2 to increase the bearing surface with the sole l3 of a shoe i4.

In the chamber and of lesser height is provided a core 15 which may be made of wood or other suitable material and which core is inserted while forming the heel so that it is functionally integral with the heel and cannot be removed without destroying the heel.

The core l5 as shown in Fig. 4 is placed close to the bottom of the chamber ii and the top of the chamber is closed by a filler I6 of cork or other compressible material. The filler has a cushioning effect and also serves to absorb humidity.

The core I 5 has a central port l1 to receive the threaded end of a screw 18 whose head i9 is countersunk in the sole l3 and extends through the filler l6 and into the port ll of the core l5 to threadedly engage the latter thereby firmly securing the heel to the shoe. If desired a lift [9 of leather or other suitable material may be secured to the underside of the heel by brads 20, said lift being roughened on its tread surface 2| to prevent slipping.

The heel 22 shown in Fig. 6 is similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 to 5 except that the lip II has been omitted.

The production of the heel is carried out by means of punches and dies illustrated in Figs. 7 to 11.

A die holder 23 has an internal annidor chamber 24 whence a pipe 25 leads to a two-way valve 26 adapted to establish communication selectively to a source of steam and water by a pipe 21 and 28 respectively, the die proper 29 has a cavity 30 having the form and shape of the heel i0.

A punch 3| cooperates with the die and has an extension 32 which in functional position produces the chamber I l in the heel.

In forming the heel the composition material 33 is poured in granular form into the cavity 30 of the die subsequent to preheating the die by permitting steam to flow into the chamber 24 and egress therefrom through the discharge pipe 34.

Thereafter the punch is lowered into compression position to press out the heel as shown in Fig. 9, the valve 26 having been manipulated to admit cold water into the chamber 24. Gases may escape through a vent 35 in the punch. The punch is raised to give access to the die which is subjected to a, blast of compressed air from a nozzle 36 to loosen the heel ID for removal.

After removal and before the heel is completely set the core I5 is introduced into the heelchamher I I and the subsequent contraction of the heel under continued cooling freezes fast'to the core 50 that the core is tightly held in position.

The drawings show one embodiment of the heel and of the means for producing the same by way of example andcnot by way of limitation.

I, therefore, do not limit myself to the details of construction and arrangement of parts, nor to 10 top section being of resilient material.

2. A heel comprising a body portion of compressed composition material, a chamber in said body portion, a wooden core in the lower part of said chamber. and a cork filler superposed on 15 said core.

ARMAND BARTON. 

